Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-16s arrive at Eglin to be modified with self-flying tech

04/03/2024

The first three F-16 Fighting Falcons that will be loaded with self-flying technology have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said Tuesday. The arrival of the F-16s marks the service’s biggest step forward yet in standing up the program known as Venom, which stands for Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed and aims to speed up the testing of autonomous technology on both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Russia's Su-35 Fighter Is Getting Hammered in the Skies Above Ukraine

04/02/2024

The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine air superiority fighter. Designed as an improved variant of the Su-27, it is a supermaneuverable jet that was first introduced in 2014. The jet relies on two Saturn AL-41F1S turbofan engines, producing 30,900 pounds of thrust each, with the afterburner engaged. The Su-35 can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25.

National Guard Bureau Seeks Additional Fighter Jets in Upcoming Budget

04/02/2024

In a recent move to bolster their air combat capabilities, the National Guard Bureau has proposed an increase to their fiscal 2025 budget for the procurement of advanced fighter jets which were previously excluded due to budgetary constraints. The request, amounting to $1.35 billion, includes six state-of-the-art F-35s and six F-15EXs. This acquisition is at the top of the Guard’s $2.66 billion Unfunded Priorities List.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Shift Paradigms and Present Challenges

04/02/2024

Not since the application of airplanes to combat warfare over 100 years ago has the U.S. military seen a shift in how it will defend the air domain with the addition of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs. More than a drone, CCAs could provide the service with exponential power in the air and tactics not yet fully envisioned, leaders say.

Dutch F-35s take over QRA duties from F-16s

04/01/2024

The skies above Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are now under the watchful eye of two Dutch F-35s as they took over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from their F-16 counterparts on March 29, 2024.

Greece Is Selling Its F-16s & Mirage 2000s To Reduce 'Cartload' Of Different Fighter Jets

04/01/2024

The Hellenic Air Force of Greece, with at least four general fighter types and at least three different models of F-16 Viper, is paring down their fleet diversity. For the Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the ability of the Hellenic Air Force to protect Greece must be improved.

Taiwan tracks 8 military aircraft, 7 Chinese naval ships

03/31/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29) and the same time Saturday (March 30). In response, Taiwan monitored People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity and deployed appropriate forces, according to the MND. One PLA aircraft entered the country’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.

Turkiye may reduce purchases of F-16s from United States

03/31/2024

Turkiye may reduce its purchase of American F-16 fighter jets due to the development of its own national combat aircraft KAAN project, Azernews reports, citing the Milliyet newspaper. How strong the reduction might be is not specified.

NATO Countries Buying the Most Combat Aircraft

03/31/2024

Geopolitical tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia remain high as the Red Army continues to make progress through Ukraine. The recent addition of Sweden to the NATO Alliance adds a mass of military forces in the Northern Europe region but there are smaller additions currently underway across the whole continent. NATO nations are stocking up on combat aircraft, more so than in years past.

Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships, 4 military aircraft around nation

03/30/2024

The Ministry of National Defense tracked five Chinese naval vessels and four military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (March 28) and 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone during that time.

Ukrainian Navy confirms Russia downed its own Su-27 aircraft over Crimea

03/30/2024

Russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-27 fighter jet over occupied Crimea due to "heightened combat readiness," Ukraine's Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on air on March 29. Russian occupation authorities in Sevastopol reported on March 28 that a Russian warplane "crashed" off the Crimean coast without naming the cause of the incident. The pilot ejected safely and was picked up by rescue services, according to the Russian-installed head of Sevastopol.

Western air bases that host Ukraine's F-16s are 'legitimate' targets for Russia, says Putin

03/30/2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Western air bases hosting F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine will be "legitimate" targets for the Kremlin's forces, according to The Associated Press. "F-16s are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and we will also need to take that into account while organizing our combat operations," he said.

National Guard’s $2.7 billion wishlist includes a dozen more F-35s and F-15EXs

03/30/2024

The National Guard would like to buy a dozen more fighter aircraft, split between F-35s and F-15EXs, if it had more funding in the fiscal 2025 budget, it said in its $2.7 billion unfunded priority list. The National Guard’s annual wish list, submitted to Capitol Hill on Thursday, breaks from those of the other US services, which shied away this year from listing big-ticket weapons platforms and focused far more on improving readiness and military construction needs.

A Bolivarian Military Aviation F-16 fighter shot down a hostile aircraft that violated Venezuelan airspace

03/30/2024

During the night of yesterday’s session, March 28th, the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB) of Venezuela reported that one of its F-16 fighters shot down an aircraft declared hostile after it violated national airspace. The news was reported through the force’s official X account, which also provided a video of the fighter jet’s firing run.

China Wants Its Very Own NGAD 6th Generation Fighter

03/28/2024

As the United States and China accelerate their efforts to develop sixth-generation warplanes, the dynamics of global military competition enter a new, more complex era. China's revelation of a mockup for its proposed sixth-generation fighter in 2021 and the U.S.'s ambitious timeline to deploy its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform by 2030 underscore a significant leap in aerial warfare technology.

First F-15EX fighter jets to be used by Oregon Air Guard

03/28/2024

The first operational F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets will be assigned to the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard, the unit that intercepts hostile aircraft over the northwest United States, the Air Force said. The initial instructor pilots from the Portland-based wing were at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to fly training versions of the jet, which the Air Force said can exceed twice the speed of sound.

Denmark strikes deal to offload 24 F-16 fighter jets to Argentina

03/28/2024

Denmark’s Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, has sealed a deal with Argentina’s Minister of Defence, Luis Alfonso Petri, in Buenos Aires, paving the way for transferring 24 Danish F-16 fighter jets to Argentina. The agreement, encapsulated in a letter of intent, reveals Denmark’s decision to revamp its military assets by replacing its ageing F-16 fleet with the F-35 jet.

South Korea Cuts Initial KF-21 Boramae Production by Half

03/27/2024

South Korea has announced plans to produce 20 KF-21 Boramae fighters this year, half of the 40 initially planned. The country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has revealed production will be staggered to address feasibility concerns calling for additional tests, according to Yonhap News Agency.

How can the FCAS program appeal to Sweden?

03/27/2024

Sweden is today the object of all the desires of the two European programs for new generation combat aircraft, FCAS and GCAP. However, far from being easily seduced, Stockholm has entrusted Saab with carrying out a study, which should enable it to arbitrate between these two programs, or even in favor of autonomous development, as was the case for the JAS 39 Gripen.

Turkish defense firm introduces high-tech radar that enhances country’s combat aircraft

03/27/2024

Aselsan, a leading defense technology company in Türkiye, introduced its cutting-edge AESA Aircraft Nose Radar technology Tuesday which was developed entirely using domestic resources. The AESA Aircraft Nose Radar, which recently completed its maiden flight with the F-16 OZGUR, promises to enhance combat aircraft capabilities significantly.

The U.S. Air Force Wants NGAD Fighters ASAP

03/27/2024

The U.S. Air Force is aggressively advancing its sixth-generation stealth fighter, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, with a budget request nearing $3 billion to counter China's military expansion. This funding boost, aimed at research, development, and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, signifies the Air Force's commitment to maintaining aerial superiority.

US Air Force wish list asks for spare parts, but no more fighters

03/27/2024

The U.S. Air Force’s $3.5 billion budgetary wish list for fiscal 2025 includes more funds for spare parts to get grounded planes back in the air, and seeks resources to be able to deploy more personnel and fighter jets.

US fighter jets strike storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen

03/26/2024

U.S. fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier struck three underground storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen late Friday, according to a U.S. official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public, said the ship is in the Red Sea.

NATO fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft five times last week

03/26/2024

NATO fighter jets were deployed five times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft, as reported by the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania. From March 18th to 24th, NATO fighter jets performing air policing duties in the Baltic States took off five times to identify and escort Russian Federation (RF) aircraft violating flight rules.

USAF to certify F-117 Nighthawk for KC-46 tanker aerial refueling

03/26/2024

The US Air Force (USAF) is on track to certify the iconic Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk for aerial refueling on its latest tanker, the Boeing KC-46, by the end of March 2024. Despite the F-117 fleet’s retirement from active service, the USAF is moving forward with plans to integrate it into the KC-46’s refueling capabilities.